Psalms 35:1 «[A Psalm] of David. » Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Ver. 1. _Plead my cause, O Lord_] We may safely pray the same, when oppressed with calumnies and false accusations, as now David was by Saul's sycophants, or, as oth... [ Continue Reading ]
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Ver. 2. _Take hold of shield and buckler_] Jehovah is a man of war, Exodus 15:3, and so he is here stirred up to harness himself; not that he needeth weapons defensive, as here, or offensive, as Psalms 35:3, for he can destroy his enemies... [ Continue Reading ]
Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation. Ver. 3. _Draw out also the spear_] viz. That thy contending and appearing for me may appear to be sufficient and glorious. _ And stop the way_] Heb. And stop, viz. the doors, as Gene... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Ver. 4. _Let them be confounded and put to shame_] Here David beginneth his imprecations; which yet _non maledicens dixit sed vaticinantis more praedixit,_ saith Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. Ver. 5. _Let them be as chaff_] _Facti sint a corde suo fugitivi,_ let them fly before their own consciences, restless and uncertain whither to turn themselves. _ And let the angel of the Lord chase them_] It may be... [ Continue Reading ]
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. Ver. 6. _Let their way be dark and slippery_] Heb. Darkness and slipperiness. If a man have neither light nor firm footing, and a fierce enemy at his heels, what shift can he make for himself? The word rendered slippe... [ Continue Reading ]
For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul. Ver. 7. _For without cause have they hid for me, &c._] The wicked are so acted and agitated by the devil, their task master, that, though they have no cause to work mischief to the saint... [ Continue Reading ]
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. Ver. 8. _Let destruction come upon him unawares_] _i.e._ Upon the whole rabble of them, as if they were all but one man. Or else he striketh at some chieftain among th... [ Continue Reading ]
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. Ver. 9. _And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord_] This was what he aimed at in his foregoing imprecations, viz. the glory and praise of God, and not his own wreaking his spleen upon his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? Ver. 10. _All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee?_] Not my soul only, but my body also shall join in this joyful... [ Continue Reading ]
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not. Ver. 11. _False witnesses did rise up_] So they did afterward against the Lord Christ and sundry of his faithful servants, as St Paul, Athanasius, Eustathius, bishop of Antioch (falsely accused of adultery, and deposed, a... [ Continue Reading ]
They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul. Ver. 12. _They rewarded me evil for good_] To render good for evil is divine, good for good is human, evil for evil is brutish; but evil for good is devilish. _ To the spoiling of my soul_] _i.e._ To the depriving me of that life which I... [ Continue Reading ]
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. Ver. 13. _But as for me, when they were sick_] _i.e._ Any way afflicted, when they ailed anything. _ My clothing was sachcloth_] I put myself in mourners' ha... [ Continue Reading ]
I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother. Ver. 14. _I behaved myself as though he had been, &c._] My brother a thousand times. This was much to do to an enemy; but possibly all this might be before they fell out. _... [ Continue Reading ]
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not: Ver. 15. _But in mine adversity_] Heb. in my halting; when through weakness I could not but halt before my best... [ Continue Reading ]
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. Ver. 16. _With hypocritical mockers in feasts_] _Cum sannionibus placentae vel cibi,_ with hypocritical mockers for a cake or dainties. There is an elegance in the original, which showeth it to be proverbial, and cannot be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions._ Ver. 17. _Lord, how long wilt thou look on?_] _i.e._ Carry thyself as a spectator of my miseries and a tolerator of mine enemies, those architects of mine afflictions. _ Rescue my soul from their... [ Continue Reading ]
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. Ver. 18. _I will give thee thanks in the great congregation_] For example's sake to others; for _Magnates magnetos._ Acts 18:8, when Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed, many of the Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. Ver. 19. _Neither let them wink with the eye_] Which is the gesture of a malicious scoffer, Proverbs 6:13; Proverbs 10:10. _Ne amarulenter ludificentur me_ (Trem.).... [ Continue Reading ]
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land. Ver. 20. _For they speak not peace_] Which yet God doth to his people, Psalms 85:9, and that is their comfort. "I am for peace," saith David elsewhere, "but when I speak, they are for war," Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it]. Ver. 21. _They opened their mouth_] As if the very banks of blasphemy had been broken down. _ Our eye hath seen_] Eye for eyes, unless we would say that all the wicked are so conjoined, that they may seem t... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 35:22 [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. Ver. 22. _This thou hast seen, O Lord_] This answereth to that before, Psalms 35:21. Our eye hath seen it, as Aben Ezra observeth. So doth _ Keep not silence_] To that they opened their mouth wide against me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Ver. 23. _Stir up thyself and awake_] This is the same in effect with the beginning of the psalm; to show his ardour and intention of affection.... [ Continue Reading ]
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. Ver. 24. _According to thy righteousness_] _i.e._ For the honour of thy justice, wherein else thou art likely to suffer. _ And let them not rejoice over me_] For I quarter arms, as I may so say, with thee, L... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. Ver. 25. _Ah, so would we have it_] Heb. Ah, ah, my soul; that is, our desire; we are _voti compotes._ We have swallowed them up] As swine do swill or ravenous beasts their prey.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me. Ver. 26. _Let them be ashamed, &c._] They shall so; and this prayer against the Church's enemies shall still speak effectually.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. Ver. 27. _Let them shout for joy, &c._] He concludeth with hearty prayer for the Church, as he doth in various other p... [ Continue Reading ]
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long. Ver. 28. _And my tongue, &c._] I do solemnly promise that thy praises shall never die on my hand, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]